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Fan et al. Soft Sci 2024;4:11 Soft Science
DOI: 10.20517/ss.2023.47

Perspective Open Access

From natural leather to intelligent wearable

nanocomposite: design and application

1
1,2
1
Ziyang Fan , Min Sang , Xinglong Gong , Ken Cham-Fai Leung 3,* , Shouhu Xuan 1,2,*
1
CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science
and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei 230027, Anhui, China.
2
State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China.
3
State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong Baptist University,
Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China.
* Correspondence to: Prof. Shouhu Xuan, CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of
Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), 443 Huangshan Road, Shushan District, Hefei
230027, China. E-mail: xuansh@ustc.edu.cn; Prof. Ken Cham-Fai Leung, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological
Analysis, Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong,
China. E-mail: cfleung@hkbu.edu.hk
How to cite this article: Fan Z, Sang M, Gong X, Leung KCF, Xuan S. From natural leather to intelligent wearable nanocomposite:
design and application. Soft Sci 2024;4:11. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ss.2023.47

Received: 22 Oct 2023 First Decision: 21 Nov 2023 Revised: 4 Dec 2023 Accepted: 27 Dec 2023 Published: 20 Feb 2024

Academic Editors: Zhifeng Ren, Ramses V. Martinez Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
As a natural material, leather has been widely used in daily life due to its high biocompatibility, wearing comfort,
and excellent mechanical strength. However, with the increasing demand for a better life among people, the single
function of leather has difficulty in meeting the requirements, which limits its application prospects. It is particularly
important to develop multifunctional leather composites with diverse characteristics. Therefore, leather can be
modified and functionally designed through physical and chemical methods towards intelligent wearable devices.
From this perspective, we review the research progress of intelligent leather-based wearable composites, mainly
focusing on the preparation methods and application directions in recent years. Finally, we emphasize the
challenges that leather composites will face in practical applications and propose future research directions.

Keywords: Leather, flexible electronics, soft sensors, safeguarding, thermal management

INTRODUCTION
Leather, as an ancient natural polymer, has a simple source and preparation, abundant reserves, high

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